Endoscopic working channel and method of making same

Abstract

An endoscopic working channel is made of an inner polytetrafluoroethylene tube having a spiral wrap of wire over it with an outer expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube bonded over the wire to the inner polytetrafluoroethylene tube.

Description

RELATED PATENT[0001]This patent application is related to the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,209, assigned to the same assignee as this application.BACKGROUND[0002]The device of the present invention relates generally to the field of endoscopy, which includes the use of tubular structures inserted intraluminally into a mammalian body cavity for visualizing, biopsing, and treating tissue regions within the mammalian body. Most endoscopes currently include at least one of a plurality of working channels which extend along the length of the endoscope to provide access to body tissue within the mammalian body cavity. These working channels typically include a rigid non-bendable section and a flexible bendable section. The working channels allow for air insufflation, water flow, suction, and biopsies. Conventional endoscopes utilize a wide variety of materials for the working channels, but all conventional endoscopes require the endoscopic working channel to be an integral part of...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Because endoscopes are subjected to repeated use and are required to follow tortuous pathways within the body, a frequent cause of failure of the endoscope working channel is the bending, kinking or fracture of a section of the working channel.

This renders the endoscope useless until it is repaired.

Unfortunately, repair of the endoscopic working channel requires disassembly of the endoscope and replacement of the endoscope working channel.

The structure of the endoscopic working channel of U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,209, however, is relatively complex and is relatively expensive to manufacture.

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